Sheet-handling mechanism for printing presses



Oct. 3, 1933. o. c. F. MEISEL SHEET HANDLING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIJ union fl f Inv 0330 CiFIMeIJse-Z, 46

Oct. 3, 1933- o. c. F. MEISEL SHEET HANDLING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mar 00:. 3, 1933. o. c. F. MEISEL SHEET HANDLING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 177/721??? 530 B" 033a CEMezlseZ,

3,47% 1 w 57 I (Hays Patented Oct.'3, 1933 11 92:3 ,096 r SHEET -"IHANDIJNG MECHANISM'FORPRINT-' INGPRESSES Otto 'C.-;E.Meisel,.Milton, Mass, assignor to iMeisel Press Manufacturing Company, Boston, .Mass" acorporatio'n of Massachusetts Application December =1s,19s1 "Serial No. 581,806

:14 Claims.

Fig. 1 is ardiagraxmnati'c sideelevation ofpart ofapress embodying myinvention'; a.

"Fig.:2 isa detail of a driving train of gears utilized therein and 'isla section ,of the further side of the furtherframe, viewing Fig. l; V Fig. 3' is an enlarged section ,just to the rear of the nearerjframe'inEigil showing the greater part of the mechanismin elevation-and with parts broken away; I

4'is a'broken verticalsection on theiline 4 4 of'FigJi; a V

' Fig. 3 is-a fragmentary section,,on,an enlarged scalevonthe line 55 of Fig. 4; and y Fig. 6 isean enlarged section on thelline i6-'6 ncif'FigQE. Referring to 'Figfil of vthe drawings, I'have an impression cylinder 7 having grippers .9 by meansiof which sheets are carriedbeneath the cooperating pla'te cylinders I11,'two of which are shown in the 'Ifig'ure. From .the impression cylinder the sheets are delivered to grippers 13 of a skeletonizejd drum 15, of which the construction, environment andcooperation with'theother elements jof 'the press are morenparticularlythe subje'ct matter of my invention. The sheetsarecarried around this drum in ,a counterclockwise direction, viewing'Fig. 1,,an'd are (here shown as beingdelivered therefrom to an accumulating cylinder'l'l *from which in turn they pass ,to the fly there partially shown a multiecolor press having gto the casing 'from .theiimpressioncylinder form 'for the skeletonized drum 15'here shown comprises apair ofring gearsi27'having external teeth and open centers-these gearshereinbeing suspended at the inner sides of 'the frames #21 and23 respectively .by the rollers 29 "carried-on studs projecting inwardly from the 'frame and engaging "the inner 'circumferences of 'the gears. Extending'between these gears are suitable cross members, certain of which, as 1that:marked 31 at the upper left hand portionof carry the abutments 13.3-with which cooperate the gripper'fingers '13. The operating means 'for'these grippers may be of any suitable construction, such as that ;part1y'i1lustrated in the drawings and comprising "the segment ,gears' and 'levers .mounted on ,fixed centers onthe ring gears :and J adaptedito cooperate with adjacent fix'e'd actuating cams in the usual manner. The gripper mechanism maypre'ferably'be enclosedina metal casing 35, the showing of which in :3 'indicatesithe four sets of grippers'in 'theillustrative nembodimentofithe invention.

The sheet taken from the impression cylinder bythegripper in the position shownln l'is carried around the drum counterclockwise as the ring gears rotateand delivered toithe accumulating cylinder 11? .withthe printed surface facing inwardly; To support the sheet'in 'the path of the :grippersI may provide the segments 37 supported on'the cross rods 7,39 extending between .the two ring gears, ,whichgsegmentsare adapted to make contact with 'theri nner surface .of ,the sheet inlocalized a'reas,,such as the margins or the like where there is noprinting. ,A suitable .form for these segments may .be that shown in detail'iniFigsfitfvgandifi wherein they are illustrated as of T sectionhaving thefflange .of the T pre- ,senteid to the sheet .and preferably :formed .with

pointed teeth l41\as shown. 7 Thesesegments are adjustable axially of .the' drum so .thattheymay make ;contact ,with" the sheet .in .desired [places a g and. arelhelfein, shown assecurednby. means. of ,the screw clamps- .143 in desired position ,'on Izhecrcss members 39. a "To supportthesheet;externa1ly1and forother I purposes 7 which will appear, the ,skeletom'zed drum'so far described is Lhoused within a {sheet metalcasing closely conformingltheretoand: em-

bodying end' or base sections 45 securedfto the 1 inner sidesiofthejramesflland, 23 anda peripheral ylindrical portion :47 closely opposing the ath of 'thergrippers. The cylindrical portion-is Jinterrnptedyalcng'linescorresponding.toelements of the cylinderItomrovideior entrance ,of a= sheet in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or essential attributes thereof, and'I "therefore'desire the present embodiment to be exit therefrom to the accumulating cylinder 17. It may also be slotted to permit the gears 49 (Fig. 3) on cross shaft 51 to project therethrough to mesh with the ring gears 27 for driving the latter but otherwise preferably substantially completely encloses theskeletonized drum. As seen in Fig. 3, one segment of the cylindrical portion 4'7 of the casing may be hinged at 53 and normally secured in position by a latch 55 so that when the auxiliary frame is drawn back away from the impression cylinder toward'the' right inFig. 1, this section may be dropped down providing convenient access to the exterior of the drum;

Since the ring gears have open centers andare supported by their inner periphery and driven at their outer periphery, they may turn freely about stationary connections extending through their open central portions to the interior of the drum. Thus a spraying mechanism 5'7 may be provided for spraying wax on the printed surface of .the sheet having a pipe connection 59 extending out through an end wall 45 of the enclosing casing within the interior circumference of the ring gears 2'7. A blowerconnection 61 may also be provided through the casing to withdraw from the interior of the drum the superfluous mist or vapor -of the wax. I have herein shown these connections as being through the further base of the sheet metalenclosing casing, viewing Figs. land 3, andpreferably the greater portion of the other base takes the form of a removable cover 63 having a handle 65 and aligning with a corresponding large.opening.6'7 in frame 21 (see Fig. 4), thus providing a man-hole through which easy access is had to the interior of the drum.'

To facilitatethe cleaning from the drum and the interior of the casing of any residual deposited wax I may offset a portion of ,the enclosing casing 4'7, as seen at the right of Fig. 3' at 69, .to receivea gas. burner 71. When this is lighted, theinteri'or of the casing soon becomes suificient- .ly heatedv to cause the wax deposited thereon'and on'th'e cylinder to melt and flow down so that it maybe easily cleaned out. If desired, a drain '73 may be provided at the bottom of the .casing for this purpose; The gas burner 69 may also be utilized in proper instances to dry theink impression on the sheets as, for instance, would be desirable if the press were utilized to print regenerated cel-,

lulose or so-called cellophane.

As seen from Fig. 2, the 'skeletonized drum 15 may have a positive gear connection with the impression cylinderand other parts of the press. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, I have there shown gear "'75 on the shaft 7'7 ,of the impression cylinder '7 connected by idler '79 to gear 81 on shaft 51 which :carries the gears 49 (seeFig. 4) which" drive the ring gears 2'7 and this in turn may be connected by idler 83 to gear 85 onthe shaft 87 of the accumulatingeylinder' 17,'thus providing a positive and accurately timed connection bet'weenthe ele-' ments of the press. The. provision of the sheetof the grippers is of fixed curvatureandv the ring gears provide a rigid support adjacent this path, a simple and. eflicient design of grippers is made possible. 7 v

I am aware that the invention may be embodied considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference'being hadto the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a printing cylinder, means for receiving and treating the printed sheet comprising a casing apertured for the entrance and exit of the sheet, a skeletonized drum revolving in the casing to receive the sheet and support the same by contact with limited areas of its inwardly presented printed surface, said drum having an open end and a fluid spray within said drum having a connection through said open end whereby the drum may revolve freely thereabout.

2. In a mechanism for delivering printed sheets, askeletonized drum having open ends, means engaging the same adjacent the periphery for rotatably supporting the drum, means for driving the drum engaging the same adjacent its periphery, means carried by the drum for hold ing sheets, and a fluid spray within the drum having'a connection extending through an open end.

3. In combination with a printing cylinder, means to receive 'work'therefrom; constituting a skeletonized cylinder over which it may pass with the printed surface inward,',comprising a pair of ring gears, means engaging a periphery there of for suspending the same, means extending between the same to engage the work at spaced means to receive work therefrom, constituting a skeletonized cylinder over which it may pass with the printed surface inward,'comprising a pair of ring gears, means engaging a periphery thereof for suspending the same, means extending between the same to engage the work at spaced po nts and support the same in the cylindrical surface, a fluid spray within the cylinder having a connection extending through the center of one of said gears, a housing substantially entirely enclosing said skel etonized cylinder but interrupted along lines corresponding .to ele ments thereof to provide for the entrance and exit of the'work, and means for driving the gears. 5. In a mechanism for delivering printed sheets, a skeletonfzed drum having open ends, means engaging thev same adjacent the periphery for rotatably supporting the drum, means for driving the drum, engaging the same adjacent its periphery, means carried by the drum for holding sheets, a fluid spray within the drum having a connection extending through an open 'end, and a housing substantially entirely enclosing said drum but interrupted along lines corresponding to elements thereof to provide for the entrance, and exit of the work.

s. In combination with a printing cylinder,".a

:mechanism' for'delivering printed sheets therefrom comprising askeletonized drum comprising a pair of ring gears, means extending between the same for holding the sheet and for'supporting it by contact with limited areas thereof,

means for driving the gears, a housing substantially enclosing said cylinder, but interrupted to provide for entrance and exit of the sheet whereby to provide anenclosure for maintenance therein of an' atmospheric condition substantially difthe interiorbfsaid drum.

'7. In combination with a printing cylinder, a mechanism for delivering printed sheets therefrom comprising a skeletonized drum comprising a pair of ring gears, means extending between the same for holding the sheet and for supporting it by contact with limited areas thereof, means for driving the gears, a housing substantially enclosing said cylinder, but interrupted to providefor entrance and exit of the sheet, whereby to provide an enclosure for maintenance therein of an atmospheric condition substantially different from that at the exterior, said housing having a removable'end providingfor access to the interior of said drum and including a shiftable segment providing access to the exterior.

8. In combination with a printing cylinder, means for delivering sheets therefrom comprising a frame movable to and from said cylinder, supports carried by the frame, ring gears suspended on saidsupports, means extending bei tween the same for holding the sheet and for supporting it by contact with limited areas thereof, means for driving the gears, a housing substantially enclosing said cylinder, but interrupted to provide for entrance and exit of the sheet, said housing having a shiftable segment exposed when said frame is moved away from the cylinder providing access to the exterior of the drum.

9. In combination with a printing cylinder, a mechanism for delivering printed sheets therefrom comprising a drum comprising a pair of open-centered annuli, means for rotatably suspending them at one circumference thereof, grip-v per means carried by said annuli for engaging sheets transferred thereto with their printed faces inward, and means for supporting the sheet so held in the path of the gripper means arranged to make contact with the sheet in limited localized areas.

10. In combination with a printing cylinder, a mechanism for delivering printed sheets therefrom comprising a drum comprising a pair of open-centered annuli, means for rotatably suspending them at one circumference thereof, gripper meanscarried by said annuli for engaging sheets transferred thereto with their printed faces inward, means for supporting the sheet so held in the path of the gripper means arranged to make contact with the sheet in limited localized areas, and stationary supporting means closely opposing the cylindrical portion of said drum.

11. In combination with a printing cylinder, a mechanism for delivering printed sheets therefrom comprising a drum comprising a pair of annuli, means for rotatably suspending them at one circumference thereof, members extending between them, gripper fingers cooperating with certain of said members to clamp sheets thereto with their printed faces inward, and segments supported'by others of said members for supporting the sheet in the path of said grippers by contact with limited areas of the printed interior faces thereof.

12. In a mechanism for delivering printed sheets from a printing mechanism a drum comprising a pair of annuli, means for rotatably suspending them at one circumference thereof, members extending between them, gripper fin gers cooperating with certain of said members, and segments supported by others of said mem bers having teeth, the points of which are disposed in the path of said grippers for supporting the'sheet by contact with limited areas thereof.

13. In combination with a printing cylinder, means to receive work therefrom, constituting a skeletonized cylinder over which it may pass with the printed surface inward, comprising a pair of ring gears, means engaging a periphery thereof for suspending the same, means extending between the same to engage the work at spaced points and support the same in the cylindrical surface, a housing substantially entirely enclosing said skeletonized cylinder but interrupted along lines corresponding to elements thereof to provide for the entrance and exit of work, means for driving the gear and means having a connection extending through said housing at the open centers of the gears for controlling conditions within the housing.

14. In combination with a printing cylinder, means to receive work therefrom, constituting a skeletonized cylinder over which it may pass with the printed surface inward, comprising a pair of ring gears, means engaging a periphery thereof for suspending the same, means extending between the same to engage the work at spaced points and support, the same in the cylindrical surface, a housing substantially entirely enclosing said skeletonized cylinder but interrupted along lines corresponding to elements thereof to provide for the entrance and exit of work, said housing providing an enclosure wherein an atmospheric condition different from that exterior thereto may be maintained, and means for driving the gears.

OTTO C. F. MEISEL. 

